Asparagus container

ABSTRACT

A container is provided for asparagus which is also useful in the packaging of other types of vegetables and fruits. The container includes an outer regular style container preferably provided with short top closure flaps. A liner is provided including a bottom panel resting upon the closed bottom closure flaps of the outer container and substantially coextensive with the area between said side and end walls. Side liner walls are hinged to opposite sides of said bottom panel, and liner flaps are hinged to the upper edges of said side liner walls. When filled with asparagus, the side liner walls are folded inwardly against the tapered asparagus spears, and the liner flaps are folded outwardly beneath the top closure flaps of the outer container. The liner side walls reinforce the top closure flaps and provide a container of high stacking strength.

United States Patent [1 1 Hughes et al.

[ ASPARAGUS CONTAINER [75] Inventors: Walter R. Hughes; John P. Vear; Elmer G. Swanson, all of Salinas,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: lloerner Waldorf Corporation, St.

Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 333,276

[52] U.S. Cl. 229/14 BE; 229/14 C [51] Int. Cl. B65D B65D [58] Field of Search 229/14 R, 14 BA, 14 BE,

229/14 BL, 14 BW, 14 C, 6 A, DIG. 14,16 C, 14 B, 6 R, 16 R; 206/521, 525, 526

[4 1 July 1,1975

Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert M. Dunning; Jerry F. Best 57 1 ABSTRACT A container is provided for asparagus which is also useful in the packaging of other types of vegetables and fruits. The container includes an outer regular style container preferably provided with short top closure flaps. A liner is provided including a bottom panel resting upon the closed bottom closure flaps of the outer container and substantially coextensive with the area between said side and end walls. Side liner walls are hinged to opposite sides of said bottom panel, and liner flaps are hinged to the upper edges of said side liner walls. When filled with asparagus, the side liner walls are folded inwardly against the tapered asparagus spears, and the liner flaps are folded outwardly beneath the top closure flaps of the outer container. The liner side walls reinforce the top closure flaps and provide a container of high stacking strength.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures in N 1 ASPARAGUS CONTAINER This invention relates to an improvement in con tainer for asparagus and the like and deals particularly with a container which is extremely strong in stacking strength and which may be folded to provide an asparagus compartment of generally trapezoidal shape designed to fit the tapered form of the asparagus spears.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Asparagus is usually packed in containers with the spears standing upright and with the lower ends of the spears resting upon the bottom of the container or upon a sponge like pad capable of absorbing water. Due to the fact that the spears taper from the cut ends thereof to the tips of the spears, a group of asparagus spears is also tapered, and while the cut ends of the spears fit tightly within the bottom portion of the container, the upper portions of the spears are usually free to move laterally, often causing damage to the tip ends of the spe ars which are the tenderest and most valuable portions thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that an extremely effective asparagus carton may be produced through the use of a rectangular container and a liner pad. The liner pad includes a bottom panel which is substantially coextensive with the area between the side and end walls of the outer container, and which is designed to rest upon the inturned closure flaps at the lower ends of the side and end walls. Liner side walls are hingedly connected to opposite sides of this bottom panel, and liner flaps are hingedly connected to the upper edges of the liner side walls. During the filling operation, the liner side walls are folded against the side walls of the outer container so that the asparagus spears may be inserted with the cut ends thereof resting upon the liner bottom panel, or upon an absorbtive pad resting upon the bottom liner panel. When the container is filled with spears, the liner side wall panels are folded into upwardly and inwardly inclined position to form an asparagus chamber which is substantially trapezoidal in vertical section, with the upper end of the chamber considerably narrower than the lower portion thereof so as to tit the contour of the asparagus spears which containers contained. The liner flaps are turned outwardly to terminate against the side walls at the juncture between the side walls and the top closure flaps. Preferably, the end wall top closure flaps are folded down into a common plane overlying the liner flaps, and the top side wall closure flaps are folded to overlie the top end wall closure flaps. When secured together, the liner side wall flaps combine with the side walls of the outer container to form triangular struts supporting the closure flaps of the outer container. These triangular struts greatly improve the stacking strength of the container so that the containers may be stacked one upon another without danger of collapse.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the top and bottom flaps of the outer container may be substantially shorter than usual, the opposed end wall closure flaps terminating in spaced relation, and the opposed side wall closure flaps terminating in spaced relation. This results in a material saving in the cost of paperboard used to form the outer container.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the shortened closure flaps form central apertures in the top and bottom portions of the container. The central opening in the top of the container may be used for ventilation purposes.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of liner retaining flaps defined by an inverted U-shape cut line and hingedly connected to the remainder of the end walls along fold lines which are parallel to the fold lines connecting the lower edges of the end walls to the bottom closure flaps. These liner securing flaps are folded inwardly and downwardly along the portions of the end walls below the hinge line connecting these flaps to the end walls, and engage over the ends of the bottom panel of the liner to hold the liner panel in engagement with the bottom closure flaps.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of drain openings at the juncture between the end walls and the bottom end wall closure flaps, and the provision of notches in the free edges of the liner securing flaps which register with the drain openings when these flaps are folded into liner retaining position. The inward and downward folding of the liner securing flaps forms ventilating openings in the end walls of the container.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of hand hole openings in the upper portions of the side walls of the outer container, these openings communicating with the upper portion of the triangular struts beneath the out turned liner flaps and outwardly of the inwardly inclined liner side walls. The fingers may be inserted through these openings without contacting or causing injury to the asparagus spears.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS l FIG. I is a perspective view of the asparagus container in readiness for shipment or storage.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the container before the closure flaps have been folded into place, the product being eliminated to show the construction.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 the asparagus spears being omitted so that the end portion of the container may be seen.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section lengthwise through the container, the position of the section being indicated by the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the outer container is formed.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the liner portion of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The container A is formed of the blanks indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6. As indicated in FIG. 5, the blank B includes a first side wall 10, a first end wall 11, a second side wall 12, and a second end wall 13, the side and end walls being connected along parallel fold lines 14, 15 and 16. A glue or stitch flap 17 is foldably connected to an end wall of the series such as the panel 13 along a fold line 19, and is secured in face contact with the other end of the blank, or to the panel 10.

The upper ends of the side and end walls are hingedly connected along a fold line 20 to a first side wall clo- 3 sure flap 21, a first end wall closure flap 22, a second side wall closure flap 23 and a second end wall closure flap 24. in a similar manner, the lower edges of a side and end walls are connected along a fold line to a first side wall bottom closure flap 26, a first bottom end wall closure flap 27, a second bottom side wall closure flap 29 and a second bottom end wall closure flap 30. As will be noted, the top an bottom closure flaps are of a length less than one half the width of the end walls 11 and 13 so that the top side wall closure flaps 2] and 23 terminate in spaced relation, as do also the opposed top end wall closure flaps 22 and 24. Similarly, in perferred form, the bottom side wall closure flaps 26 and 29, when folded inwardly, terminate in spaced relation as do also the end wall closure flaps 27 and 30. This arrangement is mainly for the purpose of conserving paperboard in forming the blank. However, the spacing of the upper side wall closure flaps 21 and 23 also serve to form a ventilating opening in the upper end of the closed container as indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Ventilating openings are provided in the end walls by an inverted generally U-shaped cut line 31 in each end wall, the sides of the U-shaped cut line being connected by fold lines 32. Liner securing flaps 33 are also defined by generally U-shaped cut lines, two of which coincide with the sides of the out line 31, and the base of the cut line defining the flaps 33 forming the free ends 34 of the liner securing flaps 33. Drain openings 35 are provided at the juncture of the lower edges of the end walls 11 and l3 and the fold line 25. The free ends 34 of the flaps 33 are provided with notches 36 which register with portions of the apertures 35 when the liner securing flaps 33 are folded inwardly and downwardly as will be described.

Hand holes 37 are provided near the upper edges of the side walls 10 and 12. As will be pointed out, these hand holes communicate with the interior of triangular struts formed along each of the side walls.

The blank forming the outer container is indicated in general by the letter B, while the liner is indicated in general by the letter C. Obviously, the container B, and liner C combine to form the complete container A. The blank of the liner C includes a bottom panel 40 which is of a size substantially coinciding with the area of the space between the side walls and end walls of the outer container. The bottom panel 40 is connected along opposite sides by fold lines 41 to liner side walls 42. The liner side walls 42 are connected along parallel fold lines 43 to liner flaps 44. Hand holes 45 are provided through the liner side walls 42 which register with the hand holes 37 in the side walls of the outer container when the liner side walls 42 are folded into face contact with the side walls 10 and 12 of the outer container. Drain slots 46 are provided in the bottom panel 40 in the area of the bottom panel which is between the opposed edges of the bottom closure flaps 26 and 29 when the container is closed.

In setting up the container A, the outer container 8 is folded into rectangular relation. and the bottom end wall closure flaps 27 and are folded inwardly into a common plane. The side wall closure flaps 26 and 29 are then folded to underlie the flaps 27 and 30. The liner C is then inserted into the container, with the bottom panel 40 resting upon the end wall closure flaps 27 and 30. The liner C may be held in place by stitches or other suitable means indicated at 47 which may extend through the bottom panel 40 as well as portions of the side and end wall bottom closures flaps The container is now ready to be filled. This is accomplished by placing the spears of asparagus in the container with the cut ends against the bottom panel 40 or against an absorbent pad resting upon the bottom panel 40. After the lower ends of the spears substantially completely cover the bottom panel 40, the liner side walls 42 are folded inwardly against the opposite sides of the tapered spears, forming the trapezoidal compartment for effectively confining the product. The liner flaps 44 are folded outwardly as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The end wall closure flaps 22 and 24 are folded downwardly to overlie the liner flaps 44, and the side wall closure flaps 21 and 23 are folded down and inwardly to overlie the end wall closure flaps 22 and 24. Staples or other fastening means such as 49 may be provided to close the container leaving the central opening for ventilation.

Just prior to the filling of the container, the liner securing flaps 33 are folded inwardly and downwardly to overlie the end edges of the bottom liner panel 40. This assists in holding the bottom panel in place and acts to form ventilating openings in the end walls of the container. The notches 36 register with the apertures 35 and the outer container to allow for drainage.

The liner side walls 42, together with the liner flaps 44 and the container side walls 10 and 12 form triangular struts along opposite sides of the container which effectively support the top closure flaps of the outer container B. As a result, the containers A may be stacked one upon another, and are very resistant to crushing. The containers may be stacked one above another to a considerable height without injury to the product.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in ASPARAGUS CONTAINER; and while I have endeavord to set for the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing form the spirit of my invention.

We claim:

1. A container for asparagus and the like including:

an outer container having side and end walls connected in rectangular tubular relation,

bottom closure flaps hingedly connected to the lower edges of said side and end walls and folded inwardly therefrom,

top closure flaps hinged to the upper ends of side and end walls and folded inwardly therefrom,

a liner including a liner bottom panel substantially coextensive with the area between said side and end walls and resting upon said bottom closure flaps,

liner side walls hinged to opposite sides of said bottom panel and inclining upwardly and inwardly therefrom to form an asparagus compartment of substantially trapezoidal vertical section, and

liner flaps hinged to the upper edges of said liner side walls and folded outwardly beneath said top side and end wall closure flaps.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said top end closure flaps are folded into coplanar relation to overlie said liner flaps and in face contact therewith.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said side wall closure flaps overlie said end wall closure flaps and are secured in face contact therewith.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said opposed side wall closure flaps and said opposed end wall closure flaps terminate in parallel spaced relation.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said side walls of said outer container include hand holes beneath the level of said liner flaps and communicating with the triangular spaces between said upwardly inclined liner side walls and said outer container side walls.

6. A container for asparagus and the like including:

an outer container having side and end walls connected in rectangular tubular relation,

bottom closure flaps hingedly connected to the lower edges of said side and end walls and folded inwardly therefrom,

top closure flaps hinged to the upper ends of side and end walls and folded inwardly therefrom,

a liner including a liner bottom panel substantially coextensive with the area between said side and end walls and resting upon said bottom closure flaps,

liner side walls hinged to opposite sides of said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom.

liner flaps hinged to the upper edges of said liner side walls and folded outwardly beneath said top side and end wall closure flaps, and

liner securing flaps in said end walls defined by inverted U-shaped cut lines and connected to said end walls along fold lines which are parallel to the fold lines connecting said end walls to said end wall closure flaps, said liner securing flaps being foldable inwardly of the portions of the end walls below said flap fold lines.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which the free edges of said liner securing flaps engage the upper surfaces of said liner bottom panel.

8. The structure of claim 6 and in which said end walls are provided with drain apertures at the juncture of said end walls and end wall closure flaps, and in which the free ends of said liner securing flaps are notched in registry with said apertures.

9. The structure of claim 6 and in which the inward and downward folding of said liner securing flaps provides ventilation openings through said end walls. 

1. A container for asparagus and the like including: an outer container having side and end walls connected in rectangular tubular relation, bottom closure flaps hingedly connected to the lower edges of said side and end walls and folded inwardly therefrom, top closure flaps hinged to the upper ends of side and end walls and folded inwardly therefrom, a liner including a liner bottom panel substantially coextensive with the area between said side and end walls and resting upon said bottom closure flaps, liner side walls hinged to opposite sides of said bottom panel and inclining upwardly and inwardly therefrom to form an asparagus compartment of substantially trapezoidal vertical section, and liner flaps hinged to the upper edges of said liner side walls and folded outwardly beneath said top side and end wall closure flaps.
 2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said top end closure flaps are folded into coplanar relation to overlie said liner flaps and in face contact therewith.
 3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said side wall closure flaps overlie said end wall closure flaps and are secured in face contact therewith.
 4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said opposed side wall closure flaps and said opposed end wall closure flaps terminate in parallel spaced relation.
 5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said side walls of said outer container include hand holes beneath the level of said liner flaps and communicating with the triangular spaces between said upwardly inclined liner side walls and said outer container side walls.
 6. A container for asparagus and the like including: an outer container having side and end walls connected in rectangular tubular relation, bottom closure flaps hingedly connected to the lower edges of said side and end walls and folded inwardly therefrom, top closure flaps hinged to the upper ends of side and end walls and folded inwardly therefrom, a liner including a liner bottom panel substantially coextenSive with the area between said side and end walls and resting upon said bottom closure flaps, liner side walls hinged to opposite sides of said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom, liner flaps hinged to the upper edges of said liner side walls and folded outwardly beneath said top side and end wall closure flaps, and liner securing flaps in said end walls defined by inverted U-shaped cut lines and connected to said end walls along fold lines which are parallel to the fold lines connecting said end walls to said end wall closure flaps, said liner securing flaps being foldable inwardly of the portions of the end walls below said flap fold lines.
 7. The structure of claim 6 and in which the free edges of said liner securing flaps engage the upper surfaces of said liner bottom panel.
 8. The structure of claim 6 and in which said end walls are provided with drain apertures at the juncture of said end walls and end wall closure flaps, and in which the free ends of said liner securing flaps are notched in registry with said apertures.
 9. The structure of claim 6 and in which the inward and downward folding of said liner securing flaps provides ventilation openings through said end walls. 